Betrayed: Chapter 2

[zelda_queen]

ZeldaQueen: In case you are all wondering, yes it only gets sillier

Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 2

Zoey runs out into the courtyard, and we get a random mention of how it’s a little past midnight. Apparently that’s when the parent visitation times are held, so the parents can get used to the Change thing. Or, you know, it means that a lot of parents have a much harder time visiting their kids because not everyone can up and go out at midnight. I mean, my dad gets up at four in the morning for work, and my mom gets up around five. Going out at midnight for open house wouldn’t go over so well in cases like that. Ah well, I digress.

As Zoey walks, she starts drooling over Erik, specifically how hot he is. Yes, that’s all she really talks about with him. Really

“Erik was the hottest guy at our school. Hell, Erik Night might be the hottest guy at any school. He was tall, dark, and handsome —like an old-time movie star (without the latent homosexual tendencies). He was also incredibly talented. Someday soon he was going to join the rank of other vamp movie stars like Matthew McConaughey, James Franco, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Hugh Jackman (who is totally gorgeous for an old guy). Plus, Erik was truly a nice guy— which only added to his hotness”

ZeldaQueen: Okay, so she gives one mention to how nice he is, but still tied it back to his looks. How nice. And yes, it still pisses me off that all talented and good-looking people are apparently supernatural, because regular people can’t be beautiful or talented, dur! So yeah, Erik’s not here, and I’m even more PO’d because dammit, he’s the only guy in this series who’s halfway likable and he’s not even here! And he won’t be here for most of it! I’m serious, he left on Monday, apparently it’s now Thursday (try to keep this straight folks, the timeline is still really screwy) and he won’t be back until Sunday. If this book goes at the rate Marked did, it’ll be over before Saturday.

So she’s going along having some daydream where Erik is Tristan and she’s Isolde only with them having a happy ending, which really misses the point of the story being a tragedy when all of a sudden she hears a man’s voice snap “You are one disappointment after another, Aphrodite!” As luck would have it, Aphrodite is being berated by her parents in the courtyard and Zoey has walked in on it. Zoey comments on how she ought to leave because even though Aphrodite is the worst bit of muck to walk the land since Lilith, it’s wrong to listen in on her being yelled at by her parents. So Zoey promptly ducks behind some bushes which will let her hear everything and get a good view. Oh what a wonderful protagonist this is, especially after she went on about how embarrassing it was that everyone saw her own parents being so horrid.

The first thing Zoey notices about these people is, of course, that they‘re gorgeous. Really, it seems like that’s all Zoey ever thinks about in this series. Although to the Cast ladies’ credits, the info dump on how they look does give us a little insight into who they are - they’re both dressed really nicely and the mother has some nice jewelry on and they’re both pissed because they apparently pulled strings to get Aphrodite into Chatham Hall and her being Marked fucked that up. So clearly they’re upper crust and, of course, evil as Satan. And not a sentence later, we find out that Aphrodite’s father is, in fact, the mayor of Tulsa.

So, in the usual these-people-are-evil way that characters in this series act, Aphrodite‘s mother keeps going on and on about how it just looks so bad that their daughter is here instead of a school on the east coast and how their only consolation was that she was the leader of the Dark Daughters and headed for money and power and fame, all of which has been fucked up royally by her. Aphrodite snipes back at them and her mother hits her. She then gives her daughter a lecture on how she mustn‘t cry because crying is a sign of weakness. The Cast ladies really have covered all of their Evil Parent clichés, haven‘t they?

So apparently the parents really want Aphrodite to be the leader of the Dark Daughters again and she‘s clearly upset and scared of them and trying to explain that there‘s a snowball‘s chance of that happening. Also, it seems that there are other vampire schools in other countries and Aphrodite was going to be sent to one of them until her parents talked Neferet out of it. Really? They can just up and ship a kid off without telling the parents? Not to mention, this just raises all sorts of questions about how big the vampire world is and how other countries are dealing with it and how the status of “High Priestess“ stands and what-all. Oy. I also must add that Aphrodite’s parents are pissed at the idea of her being sent to some “nondescript foreign House of Night” which makes me scratch my head because granted we don’t know exactly where these other schools are, but it seems to me that saying “My daughter went to a private boarding school in London” would, to the general public, sound more impressive than “My daughter went to a private boarding school in Tulsa”. I mean, I’m not insulting Tulsa, but these people sound like they’re really into how things sound and look and not what actually is best.

Aphrodite tries to get it through her parents’ heads that there’s no chance of her being made leader of the Dark Daughters, because Zoey is the new leader and she has stronger powers. Even if Neferet forgives Aphrodite, she still won’t make her the head of the group again. Aphrodite then drops this one on us - “The other girl is a better leader than I am. I realized that on Samhain. She deserves to be head of the Dark Daughters. I don't”.

Cast ladies? Bull. Fucking. Shit. You point to me one place where Zoey actually is a good leader? I mean, yes Zoey is better in the sense that she isn‘t raising demons and whatnot, but I have seen her do nothing in Marked that would convince Aphrodite that Zoey is, indeed, a better leader than her.

Aphrodite‘s parents don‘t take too well to this and tell her that she is their daughter which makes her the best (BATB video link) and doesn‘t she deserve the best? They tell her to start trying to sabotage Zoey, and the Cast ladies check yet another box on their Evil Parents Checklist. The father also suggests that Aphrodite be more forthcoming about her visions and we find out that it was her parents who got her to not tell people about them in the first place. You all remember from Marked, how that was the entire reason that Zoey decided that Aphrodite was Evil and thus deserved to be booted from power, even though that still wouldn‘t stop her from hiding her visions? If you don’t, that’s okay because the plot is put on hold to recap that bit. Well, it turns out that her parents have been the reason she did that. And no, Zoey doesn‘t actually reflect on this or give any indication that this has changed her opinions that Aphrodite is the evulz. Instead, she goes right back to spying and we hear that the reason Aphrodite was encouraged to keep her visions hidden was because knowledge is power and all. Or something. Really, I don‘t even. Anyway, Aphrodite‘s parents force her to take them back into the main room to mingle, even though she‘s clearly upset and wants to be alone for a bit.

Zoey heads back to the dorm, finally reflecting on all of this. And this actually is a rather nice bit, where she empathizes with Aphrodite, realizing that she (Zoey) got off better because even though her mom ultimately married her Evil Stepfather and abandoned her, she always had her grandmother and did have her mother‘s love for the first thirteen years of her life. Except that a few thinks kind of ruin it.

First of all, the implication in Zoey‘s reflections is that Aphrodite is only letting her parents boss her around because she never learned to grow a backbone. That‘s right, abuse victims are just wusses who never learned to stand up for themselves! Fantastic empathy there, Cast ladies!

Second of all, this entire thing is more or less forgotten. As we see in the next few chapters, Zoey‘s friends pretty much convince her that Aphrodite is Pure Evil and emotional abuse is no excuse nor a reason for her to be pitied. Because people like her are Bad and thus Irredeemably Evil. God, I love the morals of this series!

And with that, the chapter ends. Good riddance!
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Onward to: Chapter 3

Back to: Chapter 1

Back to: Table of Contents

Comments

[aikaterini.livejournal.com]

/And yes, it still pisses me off that all talented and good-looking people are apparently supernatural, because regular people can’t be beautiful or talented, dur!/

And apparently, as of this writing, Hugh Jackman is old. *sighs* Zoey, he's 43. Just because he's not a teenager or a guy in his 20's doesn't make him old, especially not in this day and age.

/the implication in Zoey‘s reflections is that Aphrodite is only letting her parents boss her around because she never learned to grow a backbone. That‘s right, abuse victims are just wusses who never learned to stand up for themselves!/

*stone-faced* Zoey? Please throw yourself off a cliff and do it soon. You have just witnessed this girl's parents being horrible to her and all you can think is, "Oh, well, if only she'd stand up to them, she'd be okay. She's just letting them bully her."

This reminds me of the clueless people who wonder why some battered wives stay with their husbands or why some abducted children stay with their kidnappers instead of running away and consequently blame them for being weak. They're her *parents,* Zoey. These are the people who have raised her all her life. Yeah, some abused kids do run away or stand up to their parents, but many don't because they've grown accustomed to such treatment.

/Zoey‘s friends pretty much convince her that Aphrodite is Pure Evil and emotional abuse is no excuse nor a reason for her to be pitied. Because people like her are Bad and thus Irredeemably Evil./

This is coming from the same girl who thought that Elliot's death was "annoying." She just has no compassion for others, does she? No sympathy, no empathy, nothing. She and Bella Swan should be buddies.

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

"*stone-faced* Zoey? Please throw yourself off a cliff and do it soon. You have just witnessed this girl's parents being horrible to her and all you can think is, 'Oh, well, if only she'd stand up to them, she'd be okay. She's just letting them bully her.'"

And what's worse is how her friends just sigh and sob and feel soooo bad for Zoey's parents being horrible, but when Zoey shows any hint of feeling pity or empathy for Aphrodite, they basically say "How dare you feel sorry for her?"

[yemi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Which is why I say, if you don't want to do research into abuse situations or show the needed sencitivity for said situations, don't write it at all. It isn't just for funny.

[yemi-hikari.livejournal.com]

I don't think she and Bella would get along. First off, they would need to be top dog. Second, Bella would pale if she heard Zoey's unpleasant mouth and Zoey would be contantly telling Bella how much of a wuss she is since she doesn't know how the world works. Would make for an interesting story though...

[greenerygripes.livejournal.com]

B(
...iiiit's Spitefic time! Once again, an OC. I just regret not being able to work in Zoey getting punched out.

----

Standing a respectable distance away from Aphrodite and her parents was a girl just a little younger than Aphrodite herself. She leaned against the side of a nearby wall, hands in her jean-pockets, wild brown hair barely contained under her Hello Kitty fedora. It was the right distance for listening to what was going on with her friend--so near that she could hear and see everything, but not too close so someone would see her. She glanced over, noticing the familiar large eyes of one of the newer girls, Zoey Redbird. She hadn't interacted with Zoey much, hardly paid her any attention really, but judging by the few times she did run into her, and all the stories that Aphrodite and Elliot's friend had told her...she was not the most stable of people.

An attention-whore with a holier-than-thou attitude who doesn't care when a classmate dies. Not the best of personalities, she thought to herself, wincing when she heard the sound of the slap. Damn, why wasn't anyone coming out to investigate?

Finally having had enough, the girl pushed herself away from the wall, jogging towards Aphrodite and her parents, waving at them. "Aphie! Hey, Aphie!" she shouted, trying to sound breathless, like she'd been running for a longer time and distance than she really was. Pretending not to notice the red on her friend's cheek, or the way her eyes were shiny, the girl tugged on her arm, grinning broadly. "Hey, you've got to come see this! No time to explain!" And since human strength was no match for vampire--even a fledgling--Aphrodite was out of her parents' grip and the two girls were halfway inside before the harpy and ogre could say otherwise.

----

"You feel okay?" she asked, pressing the ice-cold cloth to Aphrodite's cheek.

Aphrodite nodded. "I will be..." she murmured, refusing to make eye contact. The brunette understood why; first her parents had been abusing her like that (and at school, where anyone could hear), then Aphrodite had no doubt seen Zoey eavesdropping--the girl wasn't exactly Nancy Drew...and all that after the "incident" with the gazebo. One humiliation after another. "Thanks, Percy..."

[greenerygripes.livejournal.com]

"Percy" shrugged her shoulders, trying to look like it wasn't a big a deal as it really was. "Hey, you know I can't stand people like that," she murmured, pressing a little harder on the other girl's cheek. "I still don't understand why you just don't tell a teacher about them...they could keep them away, maybe."

"They're my parents," Aphrodite returned automatically, as if she'd said this a thousand times before. Quite likely she had. "I can't keep them away from me, and I have to love them and make them proud."

Percy didn't answer, instead lifting the cloth to see if the redness and swelling had gone down. It had. Changing the subject as she grabbed a paper towel to dry Aphrodite's face, she said "Saw Redbird peeping on you guys. Just staring with those big eyes like it was the best movie in the world...disgusting. No wonder you don't like her."

Aphrodite snorted--actually a funny sight, Percy thought, considering who was making that sound. "You weren't there when I came out of the trance," she laughed without humor. "Had the most self-satisfied look, like I was a kid who was caught with her hand in a cookie jar and another in the ice-cream box. And did you hear about her reaction to Elliot?"

"Yeah, I did," Percy's disgust was clear. "I'm just glad she didn't find out about Claire--you know they found her in her bed, blood everywhere...the poor girl probably thought she just had a cold." Percy lowered her head, heart sinking a bit. Those poor guys...neither she nor Aphrodite liked hearing about each classmate's death. They liked the teachers' reactions far less. And the thought of a girl their own age reacting like the kids were just flies who flew into the bug-zapper made them want to hurl.

"Speaking of Redbird though...you didn't mean it when you said she'd be a better leader, did you?" An eyebrow was raised in suspicion.

Another snort from Aphrodite, and Percy had to smile a bit. "Of course not...I just said that for her. I couldn't miss those hungry eyes staring at us--if I said that, then she'd believe it more than she does, then I can give her a little taste of what being a leader truly means. She'll crack under the pressure in two minutes, believe me. She thinks it's all peaches and cream and sparkles being a leader? Ha!"

Percy snorted this time, adjusting her fedora. "Oh man, I'd pay to see that collapse of ego. Though I'd put her at one minute, not two."

"Her pride would never allow her to give up before the thirty-second mark," Aphrodite scoffed, though in a good-natured way. Finally smiling again, she lightly pushed at Percy's hat so it nearly fell off her head. "We'd better get back before anyone makes a scene, or it gets worse for me. ...Stay with me?"

Percy adjusted her hat again before squeezing Aphrodite's shoulder. "Of course. Not like I have anything better to do that serve as bodyguard--Mom couldn't get a later shift."

"Thanks...Persephone."

"Hey, I said not to call me that!"

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! ^_^

[parrinoyed.livejournal.com]

Very cute! I like Percy.

[erikalyndis.livejournal.com]

There appears to be a large amount of 'win' in this story.

[detritius.livejournal.com]

So, what was the purpose of this scene, if Zoey isn't going to come to some kind of realization about Aphrodite, or about how people can be more than they appear, or something? But that would be character development, and that's just out of the question for these books, for some reason.

Also, did the Casts really make every single famous person they could think of into a vampire? Because that's... I don't know, there's something really sick about it. For one thing, the implications that mere humans could never accomplish anything makes me really uncomfortable. I really hate when fantasy/paranormal/scifi authors do that. I mean, who do they think the audience for their books are? And for another thing, these are real people who maybe don't want to be associated with bloodsucking monsters. I don't know, it strikes me as disrespectful and creepy.

[yemi-hikari.livejournal.com]

From what I've read about this series, this is supposed to eventually make Aphrodite into one of Zoey's side kicks. I read about it and thought it was intersting, but had a feeling the Casts would ruin it. It was actually worse then I thought anyone could do.

What gets me even more is how some people think these kind of books embody girls to become something more. No... they don't.

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

"Also, did the Casts really make every single famous person they could think of into a vampire? Because that's... I don't know, there's something really sick about it. For one thing, the implications that mere humans could never accomplish anything makes me really uncomfortable. I really hate when fantasy/paranormal/scifi authors do that. I mean, who do they think the audience for their books are?"

That's why I really hate that. I mean, okay if it was one or two people or something, but every actor, musician, and other famous person? Really?

[carmyn]

*flails* Dude, wtf happened to characters (or rather, protagonists) that have sympathy and empathy for others? I really cannot comprehend why this is shown as a bad thing! I (kinda sorta) understand why Aphrodite wouldn't have those qualities, she was raised not to have those qualities (and I will be getting to that in just a sec.) but Zoey? Who is suppose to be the good guy? I am so flabbergasted. Can ANYONE please explain on WHY sympathy and empathy for others have suddenly gone out of style?!

As for Aphrodite, I will say this: CAST LADIES, LISTEN UP, you stupid fucking cows. You do realize that if a child is raised in an abusive home THEY THINK THE ABUSE IS NORMAL NORMAL NORMAL. They cannot comprehend that the abuse is not a common occurrence in other homes. They ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, UTTERLY cannot understand that the abuse is a) a bad thing, because they think its NORMAL and b) that not all children go through what they go through. This is the reason America is in the shitter, GOD FORBID WE FEEL BAD FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

I hate this people. I'll kill them, I really will. This is absolute bullshit.

[yemi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Anyone want to write a round robin spite fic for the House of Night series?

http://robin-round.livejournal.com/2183.html

The idea is to pretend that House of Night is actually a fanfic for another work, where the Cast Suethors have taken the original context and twisted it and misinterpreted to cause major canon defilement to the original.

Because seriously... after this chapter, I REALLY think it is needed.

[mogseltof.livejournal.com]

That sounds like an awesome idea. Just comment on the post with a "yes I'd like to"?

[yemi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Yup! :)

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

I think that's the thing that gets me the most about the characters in this book - there is no empathy and there is virtually no reflection. We get one bit in this chapter where Zoey does feel sorry that Aphrodite apparently had no one to turn to growing up for love or support, but that goes bye-bye later.

[carmyn]

That's what makes me so angry! Just because a book is for pure entertainment value doesn't mean that a moral-less book. Sure, I don't want the character to ALWAYS get the shit end of the stick but this is why perfect characters are only fun for the author; they are no fun! I want the character to be a phoenix, to fall and rise again. When has Zoey ever floundered? Ever legit doubted herself? Sure, she doesn't need to be a spine-less coward but it's an uplifting story to know that someone could overcome adversity.

I still don't see the overarching story. I don't see that plot that connects eight books. These could be all one-off stories loosely connected by a character and a place.

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

Oh, Zoey does constantly wangst about how she's so unworthy, untalented, etc. Everyone instantly flocks to her and assures her that no, she's perfect.

The...erm...actual plot has yet to show. I can't remember when exactly it does show up, but it's not for awhile. We do get a reminder of it in a few chapters, though.

[parrinoyed.livejournal.com]

1) Love that "nice" is a bonus. Implication being it's ultimately irrelevant, but convenient for Zoey.

2) Aphrodite (minus the line about Zoey being a good leader) would make a far more interesting protagonist. Not necessarily as a 'good' character, but as the main/viewpoint character.

[carmyn]

2) Aphrodite (minus the line about Zoey being a good leader) would make a far more interesting protagonist. Not necessarily as a 'good' character, but as the main/viewpoint character.

Agreed. Seeing a character who had it all; a wealthy family (who maybe even spoiled her) and was going to a huge boarding school and had every possibility in front of her, only to be turned and dragged to the HoN and have everything taken away from her. Then, while she's there, she finds her niche and sure, maybe abuses it a bit, but gets dragged back down and learns her lesson and redeems herself, even though her family all but abandoned her and the entire school hates her for what she did. It would be a good story to show that even if you make a lot of terrible mistakes, if you learn your lesson, anyone deserves a second chance, and Zoey could be a bad guy because she refuses to give Aphrodite that chance.

...I'd read that.

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

"1) Love that "nice" is a bonus. Implication being it's ultimately irrelevant, but convenient for Zoey."

And it really is, for her and for all of her stupid friends. I really hate how shallow they are, and I hate how shallow the Cast ladies think teens in general are.

"2) Aphrodite (minus the line about Zoey being a good leader) would make a far more interesting protagonist. Not necessarily as a 'good' character, but as the main/viewpoint character."

Agreed, especially with the development she gets later.

[morri-delrae.livejournal.com]

Bwuh... I'm sorry, but I have to comment before reading the whole spork. This bit?

Hugh Jackman (who is totally gorgeous for an old guy)

Cannot be allowed to live.

Now, if they were talking about Alan Rickman, I'd probably grind my teeth and let it slide, because "old" is a legitimate, if impolite, way to describe a man at seventy-five. But Hugh Jackman? He's fourty-three, which makes him barely middle-aged, and compared to PC Cast herself he is EIGHT FUCKIN' YEARS HER JUNIOR.

*grabs her anti stress ball, bites down and fumes silently*

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

No, no, 43 is totally ancient in the eyes of a shallow 16-year-old! -_-;

Reminds me of an unauthorized guide to Twilight I read. One chapter, which did nothing but gush about how Edward was the perfect boyfriend, claimed that high school girls aren't into guys that are older. Or something like that. Bzuh?

Although I suppose it's a step up from Stephenie "17 is the age of physical maturity" Meyer.

[winki-pop.livejournal.com]

'“Erik was the hottest guy at our school. Hell, Erik Night might be the hottest guy at any school. He was tall, dark, and handsome —like an old-time movie star (without the latent homosexual tendencies). He was also incredibly talented. Someday soon he was going to join the rank of other vamp movie stars like Matthew McConaughey, James Franco, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Hugh Jackman (who is totally gorgeous for an old guy). Plus, Erik was truly a nice guy— which only added to his hotness”'

*I know I said this about the last book, but it really is irksome that the Casts and others (Meyer!) write vamps as pretty, perfect and popular people, never as average humans, because 'ew, who wants to be all normal and gross?!' And comparing Erik to other guys doesn't convince me of how attractive he is, that's just lazy. God, the guy can't even have his own looks and quirks, he's just some cardboard cut-out to drool over! Yawn… Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right, personal tastes and all? And Hugh Jackman is not old! Maybe it's more apt to say 'older than I am,' I'm not sure.

*Geez, now I really feel bad for Aphrodite. I'm actually on her side now. It's more like Zoey is the bully now, just waiting for an excuse to trip Aphrodite up. I get Aphrodite being the way she is, and it would have been interesting to explore the relationship with her parents more, in more subtle ways, of course. But, naturally, the Casts just sweep it under the rug because they just think 'oh no, too hard!' and instead want to turn to more pressing subjects like Zoey's woe about having her Beetle parked on the curb and not in the garage (the horror!). THAT'S what the Casts want us to feel sorry for, not the girl who gets shat on by her parents all the time like their personal verbal punching bag >.<

*And I agree: why do YA Writers keep writing characters, girls specifically, as uncaring and shallow twats? Really, that's what they're aspiring to nowadays?

*Zoey a good leader my arse! She hasn't done ANYTHING to prove so!

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

Now see, I could almost buy vampires being attractive if it was handled better. It would make sense if it was a mechanism to lure in prey. Now Meyer tried that excuse, but failed because she god-moded her Sues way too much. Given how we're later told how blood-drinking works (endorphins are released in humans to make it pleasurable...right), I'd imagine that the Cast ladies might have had the lure in prey thing in mind as well. Like you said though, it's just horrible the way it's portrayed. The guys (and even a few of the girls O_o) are nothing but eye candy for our very judgmental protagonist.

Just wait until the end. Besides Erik, Aphrodite is my favorite character in this series. She gets way more development than freaking Zoey!

Now see, that's another reason why I like things like Sailor Moon and Anne of Green Gables. You can argue that the girls come across as feather-headed, but they still all have self-respect and a sense of responsibility. And don't giggle over boobies, yes. -_-

"Zoey a good leader my arse! She hasn't done ANYTHING to prove so!"

Nonsense. The Cast ladies have told us, so it must be true. ;P

[overlordmikey.livejournal.com]

“like an old-time movie star (without the latent homosexual tendencies).”

W-what! Okay; quite a few movie stars of yore did have homosexual relations - most of them where probably bi or closeted.
Why do the cast ladies feel the need to mention it? I mean aren’t they just so enlightened - after all it’s been oh so “subtlety” mentioned; off-handily, that Damien Gayguy Gaypy might just be gay.
So is she saying Erik would be less worthy of he love if he happened to find men desirable as well?
Would that make him uglier; because everyone knows that’s all Zoey gives a shit about anyway!

WHY MENTION THAT AT ALL YOU IDIOTS!? IT SERVES NO POINT!

“Hugh Jackman (who is totally gorgeous for an old guy)”

I won’t say whether I think Hugh Jackman is attractive or not, but for some reason saying he’s hot for an “old guy” seems to annoy me. I mean I’ve commented on how some people can be attractive at an age when most think that people stop being attractive or even because or their age, but this comes off as despite being that age.

Also Erik’s niceness is treated as a footnote - why do so many sueauthors treat kindness as being second to appearance?

~~~

Once again I am sympathizing with Aphrodite; a rapist, yes her parents a cliche, but she's still more appealing than Zoey. And Erik; who’s nice, but has little personality (just a side effect of this story really) or focus time.

Nice job story…

[amamelina.livejournal.com]

Just kinda going back through the archives and realized I never finished reading this one. So far, loving your end. The actual book, not so much.

Thought I'd comment on this one: And not a sentence later, we find out that Aphrodite’s father is, in fact, the mayor of Tulsa.

Now that is interesting. You'd think that the daughter of the mayor being Marked would have been big news. Someone would have reported it, even if it was hushed up by the major newspapers. Some little tabloid would have picked it up.

[zelda-queen.livejournal.com]

"Now that is interesting. You'd think that the daughter of the mayor being Marked would have been big news. Someone would have reported it, even if it was hushed up by the major newspapers. Some little tabloid would have picked it up."

You'd think it would be, but the whole thing is incredibly inconsistent. It's like the parents think Aphrodite being a vampire is an embarrassment that must be hidden, but also believe that she can use her position to her advantage, to get wealth and influence in the vampire world. Uh...